Glossary A–ZLetter T
Tourist information
In a tourist information office, screens inform visitors about sights, events, accommodation, transport and the weather, often in several languages.
They hang in the office or in the window, or stand outdoors as totems, where they also help outside opening hours.
Typical content includes an events calendar, webcam images, the weather, available accommodation, bus and train departures and excursion tips. Interactive terminals offer town maps and search functions. The data comes from regional event databases, weather services and timetables, so that nobody maintains it twice.
Visitors are new to the place and often speak other languages. Clear pictograms, large maps and several languages therefore matter more than lots of text. An outdoor totem needs protection against weather and damage. Event data must be maintained and given an expiry date, otherwise past events are promoted. Image rights for photos of the region must be clarified. Emergency numbers and details of pharmacies on out-of-hours duty are often especially useful for visitors.